The high-stakes legal drama between Janel Grant and WWE, Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and others has taken a new turn, as a judge has officially put the civil case on hold. The decision comes amidst a federal investigation into the allegations against McMahon and WWE.
According to court documents unearthed by Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston, the judge has granted Grant’s attorneys’ request to stay the trial, allowing the US federal government to continue its criminal investigation into McMahon. The judge also denied, for now, McMahon’s attorneys’ motion to push the case into private arbitration, as per the terms of the unfulfilled NDA between McMahon and Grant. However, this denial was without prejudice, leaving the door open for the motion to be granted later.
Grant’s complaint paints a grim picture, alleging that she was sexually harassed, abused, tortured, and trafficked while employed by WWE as an assistant to McMahon. The federal government’s interest in the case escalates the stakes, with investigations into McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE for abuse and trafficking.
In a statement to Brandon Thurston, a representative for McMahon said, “Mr. McMahon is eager to prove Ms. Grant’s claims are false and expose her lies, but did not object to the government’s request to pause the matter in connection with the investigation regarding disclosures at WWE. Following the six-month stay, when his legal team is able to get discovery and depose Ms. Grant and others, the evidence will show the relationship was consensual and Ms. Grant’s allegations are malicious fabrications of a jilted lover.”
McMahon’s resignation from WWE and TKO Group Holdings in January followed public revelations of his alleged abuses. Initially stepping down in 2022 after it was revealed he used company funds for hush money payments, McMahon returned in 2023 to facilitate the WWE-UFC merger, forming TKO Group Holdings under UFC parent company Endeavor.
As the federal investigation continues and the case remains on hold, the wrestling world watches closely, anticipating the next steps in this unfolding legal saga.